I have to apologize. It's been an interesting Spring, to say the least, as I've been up to my ears as investor chair of the Willamette Angel Conference and judge of the University of Oregon's New Venture Competition and University of Texas' Moot Corp business plan contest. I had to cancel my participation at the Rice Business Plan Contest at the last minute, but not before I'd read all the plans in my judging track. So I haven't been posting here for a while.
I'm looking forward to being both judge and presenter at Princeton's competition next week on Friday May 28. 
In this one, the winner gets a one-hour meeting with Silicon Valley venture capital legend Sequoia Capital; plus two round trip tickets from the East Coast.That's in addition to free marketing plan consulting, business planning consulting, and legal services. Plus of course the prestige of winning at Princeton.
I've been judge and presenter at the Princeton event a couple times now and I'm looking forward to doing it again next week. It's held on Princeton's beautiful campus, it attracts very strong new businesses, and they do it during the graduation/reunion weekend that's one of the best of its kind.
Not having a business school as part of the institution doesn't seem to dampen the work of the Princeton Entrepreneurship Network, which still manages to bring several hundred people, speakers, judges, and interesting new companies to the event. This year the finalists include a social entrepreneurship track as well as a main track, plus a collection of shorter pitches from additional companies. I'll be doing a workshop on business planning in the morning, as part of that event. And Princeton/Stanford alum Brian Spaly, CEO of the Trunk Club and co-founder of Bonobos, is giving the keynote.
If you're in that area next week, and you're interested in entrepreneurship, it makes a great day. You can click here for the conference schedule, and click here to register to attend. The $30 includes the full event, lunch, and cocktails.
(Image: Oleg Mit/Shutterstock)
